The Philadelphia Wings today announced the resignation of Tony Resch as the team's head coach, ending a fourteen-season affiliation which included eight years on the bench staff.

Resch leaves the Wings in order to focus on his new position as athletic director at La Salle High School in Philadelphia, which he begins this fall. During his time with the Wings, Resch served as sixth-grade teacher, as well as football and lacrosse coach, at Penn Charter.

The departure was not unexpected -- when Resch accepted the job at La Salle in late March, he knew that it likely would mean leaving the Wings and notified the team of that possibility.

"Tony has been the ultimate Wing," said team co-owner and president Russ Cline. "He has been with our organization as a player and coach for 14 of our 15 years. It will be very difficult to look at the bench next season and not see Tony as a part of our team. The Wings will always know that our six titles in 15 seasons is a direct reflection on the tremendous leadership that Tony provided our teams as both player and coach."

Resch had been the longest-serving coach of a single team, serving as head coach since 1995. Prior to that, he spent a year as assistant coach under Mike French and six years as an active member of the team. In his fourteen years with Philadelphia, the Wings won six league titles -- including this season's 9-8 victory over the Toronto Rock -- and appeared in the championship round nine times.

As head coach of the Wings, Resch compiled an overall record of 69-31, including a 10-4 postseason mark and three championships (1995, 1998, 2001). He also coached the American team in the 1999 NLL All-Star Game at Rochester, and was named the NLL's Coach of the Year this past season.

A defensive specialist in his six seasons on the playing field, he scored twenty-two points (12 goals, 10 assists) and was team captain for three years. Prior to his professional career, he was an All-American at Yale in 1984 and 1985 and won a gold medal with Team USA at the 1990 World Games.

"The Wings have been a huge part of my life for the past 14 years," said Resch. "I'm very sad to leave, but it's time to move on to other challenges and spend more time with my family. I have formed some incredible friendships through the Wings and will never forget my time with the team, especially our championship years."

Resch's successor has not yet been named, although former Wing Brian Voelker is believed to be the front-runner.